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Thoughts on humanizing technology

Three Words for 2013

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For the past few years, I’ve followed Chris Brogan’s practice of coming up with three words to use as guides in the coming year. This year I want to share them publicly.

Truth

Accept the truth of what is and be willing to speak it out loud to anyone at any time. Be truthful with others about my values and beliefs.

Deliberate

Make specific choices and follow them through. Do not accept the arbitrary. When change is needed, make new choices. Plan, execute and adapt.

Pillar

As in pillar of the community. Be available to offer support to family, friends and associates. Also to provide the support that I need for myself in setting boundaries and the maintenance of health.

Three Words for 2012

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WordsOn this first day of 2012, I am following Chris Brogan’s suggestion to pick three words to guide me in the coming year. Because, as Chris says:

Resolutions are often too vague, or too directed towards one goal. It might be “quit smoking” or “lose 20 pounds” or “get hired.” These are all fine aspirations, but I challenge you to dig deeper, to find three words that could be used as lighthouses to guide you through stormy seas, that can be used as flags on the battlefield of your challenges, words that will bolster you and give you a direction that goes beyond the goals you might attach as a result of these words.

So, without further ado, here are my three words for 2012:

Enthusiasm

Bring enthusiasm to the task at hand. Use enthusiasm as a primary signal when choosing to pursue opportunities.

Capacity

Build capacity to engage with meaningful tasks and see them through to completion. Find or build tools and structures to make work manageable.

Distribute

Distribute work among many people. Distribute ideas to people who value them. Distribute myself among people with differing skills and viewpoints.

Happy New Year’s Day to you all and I wish you an excellent year to come.

Words photo by ninasaurusrex.

Return of a Guitar Hero

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Mike Gonzales, Greg Noll and Jim Anderson

Mike Gonzales, Greg Noll and Jim Anderson

Tuolumne County (pop. 50,000) has it’s own born and bred rock star guitarist. His name is Greg Noll and his band, Crazy Ivan, is a regular at events around the county. During the 80s, he was the guitarist for the heavy metal band Poison, which had commercial success and a substantial following in Europe and Japan.

On March 22, 2011, at age 46, Greg suffered a stroke. He was lucky, in that the stroke happened while he was being examined by a local ER doctor for dizziness. He was airlifted to Doctors Hospital in Modesto, the nearest stroke unit. There, according to the Crazy Ivan blog:

Chris met the chopper at the hospital and helped get Greg admitted and stabilized. It’s now Wednesday afternoon and a few of the Ivan family went to visit him. He was in pretty bad shape BUT.. He had full mobility (including fingers and tongue) no slurred speech and was aware of his surroundings, himself and the people in the room. AMAZING!!!

To make this a little shorter, he was discharged on Saturday and is staying with good friends in Modesto who live close to the hospital. He is able to pursue his course of physical therapy and adjust to his new diet and medication regime. He continues to make slow but steady progress to what we hope will be a full recovery.

The hopes for recovery were realized at a benefit concert for Greg on May 13, 2011, at the Tuolumne Memorial Park, where he performed with the band, seemingly without missing a beat.

Crazy Ivan will be playing again in Tuolumne Park on July 20, 2011, at the Tuolumne Farmers Market. It’s always great fun to watch them perform for friends and family in their home town. We’re very lucky to still have Greg Noll with us to rock the house.

Strawberry Video Preview – Day 4

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Doing the Strawberry Stroll

Doing the Strawberry Stroll – Fall 2009

The Strawberry Music Festival is a Central Sierra tradition that goes back 30 years. The festival takes place twice a year – over Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends – at Camp Mather, just outside of Yosemite National Park. The performers are diverse, the setting spectacular and the festival-goers are now into their 3rd generation.

Since I always like to check out the performers who I haven’t heard before, I thought I’d share videos for each of the 22 bands that will be playing at the Fall festival. My family and I look forward every year to spending four days immersed in “The Strawberry Way”.

Sunday, 9/4/2011

12:45 Dala

2:15 Martyn Joseph

5:15 Dan Crary and Thunderation

6:45 Greensky Bluegrass

8:45 David Grisman Bluegrass Experience

Strawberry Video Preview – Day 1

Strawberry Video Preview – Day 2

Strawberry Video Preview – Day 3